nancy nancy

All the links to my fanfics here!!! I'll be updating :)

Gerard Way

Timeline 1

Timeline 2

Timeline 3

Timeline 4

Timeline 5 FINAL CHAPTER

Ink & Silence (one shot)

Mikey Way

The Press Pass

Alternative Universes

Vampires Will Never Hurt You 1 (Frerard/Rayrard/ Illi McMillin)

Vampires Will Never Hurt You 2

I just got to the conclusion that I need Gee as the Joker, like, JUST LOOK AT HIM, he's a natural actor. LOOK AT HIM.

Summary: Frank knows exactly what he feels: love, raw and unshakable. Gerard knows it too, but he’s drowning in fear, fame, and expectations. On stage, they’re untouchable, the band at its peak. Off stage, they’re a mess of secrecy, stolen glances, and words left unsaid.

Between tantrums, tender moments in hotel rooms, and a teddy bear that becomes the symbol of everything they can’t say aloud, Frank and Gerard stumble through a love that burns too bright to hide, yet too fragile to survive the spotlight.

tw: toxic relationship, angst, emotional distress, forbidden love

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a/N: Hi!! Naancy here! Well, a little bit of context, I saw mychem twice!! here in Argentina and Mexico, so I came with a lot of inspiration. For a while I was thinking about leaving this account, but idk what happened after the concert that... I'm feeling like a teenager again even though I'm a fully grown ass woman lol. So, here I am, the show must go on. Also, maybe for this month I'll finally be finishing the Twilight AU, here on tumblr and on AO3, stay tunned!! PERO ANTES, MÁS MÚSICA DE LOS HIVES (iykyk) well nope, but... first, an angsty frerard one shot! oh, and btw for this oneshot, the name is a reference to a very popular song here in my country ;)

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The tour was about to end; they had traveled across all of Latin America and would conclude “The Black Parade Is Dead” in Mexico City. This was not the first time they visited that city, but back then they didn’t have much time to explore it—just arrive, perform, and goodbye. This time, however, they would stay a little longer.

Frank and Gerard had something going on. Their crew, friends, and bandmates sensed it, but the two of them refused to talk. They kept up the image of being good friends in front of everyone; yet, behind their jokes and playful banter, something probably more complex than friendship was hiding. There was no need to spy on them to guess it, but if anyone questioned them, they would reply with the same refrain: “It’s just shock factor.”

They had agreed to sneak away before heading to the venue. Wearing black hoodies and dark sunglasses, they slipped through the hallways and numerous staircases of the grand hotel where they were staying. The neighborhood was surrounded by skyscrapers, yet among its streets one could still find colonial houses that sheltered bookstores, clothing shops, cafés, and other places.

“Do you know where we’re going?” Gerard asked, bending down a little to meet the height of his “best friend.”

“Anywhere but the hotel…” Frank replied, frowning as he searched for some interesting place to enter. “What about there? It looks like a bazaar,” he said, pointing to a colonial house with a large sign that read “Bienvenidos.” Without paying much attention, he grabbed Gerard’s hand and pulled him roughly toward the place.

The colonial house worked as a kind of small shopping center. Instead of conventional stores, there were local ventures—some selling food, clothing, jewelry, or curiosities. In fact, the shop that caught their attention the most was a quaint antique store, not only because it was cozy but also because of the sheer number of curious items: ceramic figurines, appliances, and of course, toys. While Gerard was busy exploring the typewriters, Frank approached the shelf with toys. Between a little Luke Skywalker figurine and a Barbie from the sixties sat a teddy bear dressed in an adorably tiny sweater. Hanging from its paw was a handwritten tag: “Teddy Bear, made in Taiwan 1983.”

“I think this little friend wants to come with me. I had one exactly like it when I was a kid, and one day it just disappeared,” Frank said, carefully holding the teddy bear. “Can you imagine if this were the same one?”

“The chances are never zero, Paquito.” He paused to glance at the small teddy bear. “What year is it from?” He picked up the tiny tag and squinted to read it. “Pff… the ’80s are vintage now, huh.”

Frank seemed genuinely excited about the possibility of reuniting with his old childhood friend. As he shared some memories of his teddy bear, Frank began closing the distance with Gerard, brushing his hand against his, and when he looked into his eyes there was a particular spark. This wasn’t unusual, nor was it the first time it happened—usually Gerard would respond to his gestures, taking his hands, playing with them, and the sparkle was mutual, accompanied by a faint pink flush on his cheeks that stood out against the paleness of his skin. However, this time Gerard appeared indifferent, something Frank took a while to notice. He wasn’t even listening to what Frank was saying; he was more focused on stepping aside.

“What’s going on?” Frank broke off mid-sentence, his eyes narrowing with concern. Silence stretched between them before he added softly, “Did I do something?”

Gerard shook his head, a faint, evasive smile tugging at his lips. “No, nothing… really. I just think it’s time we head back to the hotel,” he said, his hand drifting to the back of his neck in a nervous gesture.

“But we just got here. I want to buy the teddy bear and keep looking around. Why don’t we look for something to eat?” he asked in frustration, trying to reach for Gerard’s cold hand.

“Don’t touch me.” The words slipped out between Gerard’s teeth, sharp and low, carrying a weight that cut deeper than he intended. Frank froze, the sting of rejection settling heavy in his chest.

Without making a scene despite his pain, he turned to the counter with the teddy bear in his hands. Digging into his pocket, he found the pesos he had exchanged upon arrival, only to realize they weren’t enough. The shop refused dollars, and desperation pushed him to plead for the bear to be set aside, offering the single bill he carried. For a moment he thought Gerard might cover the rest, but Gerard was already gone, vanished from the shop as if the distance between them had widened beyond reach. Frank left with nothing but a promise to return the next day—and with hands empty, his heart felt emptier still.

Gerard wandered through the other shops but still kept his distance from Frank. For Frank, this was enough, since it wasn’t the first time Gerard’s attitude shifted within minutes to become rude. Whatever they had wasn’t clear, but they treated each other like two teenagers discovering love for the first time, even though they were already grown men. Frank was certain of his feelings, but unfortunately Gerard still doubted what he was doing, even though he acknowledged his attraction to his bandmate. After all, those glances weren’t given to just anyone. Yet, although Frank was receiving Gerard’s attention, the uncertainty of what they were and the need to keep it secret—even from trusted friends—was exhausting. He longed to shout to the world how much he loved Gerard, but he knew Gerard would never do it, no matter how often he whispered it sporadically, accompanied by a kiss on the forehead.

Every time they went somewhere outside the stage, Gerard would start with his outbursts. But once they returned to the hotels, the vans, or any other place where they could secretly slip away from the others, the affectionate Gerard would take control again. This resulted in a constant swing of emotions—from the most intense love that seemed to burn in their chests… to the most desolate uncertainty.

For the rest of the day, they didn’t speak to each other. Frank was clearly upset, while Gerard pretended as if nothing was wrong, adopting a cheerful attitude that anyone who knew him could tell was off. In fact, Ray, Mikey, and Bob noticed that the two were avoiding each other almost to the point of death.

A few hours before the big concert, already at the venue, Frank was organizing his gear. He was handing his technicians the two guitars he would use that night, each tuned differently for specific songs, but Gerard’s presence kept intruding in his mind. At that moment, Gerard was at the peak of his career: financially stable, having achieved his goals, his ego inflated like a balloon, while Frank could barely process everything he was living through.

In another dressing room, Gerard was applying a base of white makeup, but he was interrupted by one of his assistants, who came in to drop off some bottles of water.

“Hey, listen. Could I ask you a huge favor? Only if you’re able,” Gerard said, setting the sponge down on the vanity. The young assistant shrugged, uncertain. Gerard pulled a handful of crumpled bills from his pocket and pressed them into his hand. “There’s an antique shop a few blocks from the hotel, inside a colonial house. You’ll spot it right away. They’ve got a teddy bear with a green sweater. Think you could buy it and bring it back for me? Take your time. If I’m already on stage, just leave it here for me.”

The assistant took the bills, and Gerard even gave him an extra, generous tip for accepting the mission despite the venue and the shop not being very close. Fortunately, he completed the errand just minutes before the concert began, so the teddy bear arrived safe and sound in Gerard’s dressing room.

The concert went exactly as planned. There were some technical problems, but aside from that, it was an excellent performance for the boys. While the audience was bursting with happiness and euphoria, backstage things were falling apart. On one hand, Bob and Ray were exhausted—so many days of concerts with little food and rest had taken their toll. On the other hand, Mikey had to endure his older brother’s tantrums, and whenever Gerard had a crisis about what he really wanted, the only person who could handle it was his little brother. And then… there was Frank, who, with a broken heart, sought comfort in the thought that this would be the last time he would see his great forbidden love, or at least not for a very long time. Although they all returned to the hotel in the same van, no one exchanged a word. Only Frank and Gerard remained awake, though they pretended to be asleep to avoid speaking. Each went to his own room, and thus ended a day successful in work, but a fiasco in every other aspect.

The following morning, Frank dragged himself out of bed, heavy with fatigue. Before breakfast, he made his way to the antique shop, determined to claim the teddy bear at last, this time armed with his credit card. But the shelf was empty. The bear was gone. In halting English, the shopkeeper explained that a young man had come the day before, settling the deposit and taking it away. Frank stood stunned. No one else knew about the bear, no one but Gerard. With confusion burning into suspicion, he turned back toward the hotel, knowing he would have to face Gee and demand the truth.

When Frank returned to the hotel, words already forming on his lips, he stopped short. There, propped gently against the door of his room, sat the teddy bear—its little sweater neat, a folded note resting against it. The sight silenced him, the confrontation he had rehearsed dissolving into a rush of confusion and anticipation.

“What I feel for you is truly genuine, I really like you a lot, but I feel as if I’m in a constant battle between who I am and who I have to be. That’s always been my way. Don’t try to understand me. I know none of this excuses the times I’m a mess, but I’m afraid. I think the band is in a good place, but I don’t know if there will be something for all of us after all this. I’m not sure, but I’m afraid. The cameras point at me, people expect something from me, my family expects something, I can’t handle it all. Sometimes I can’t breathe. I don’t have the courage to tell you many things face to face, but I hope you can forgive me, and I also hope we can find a solution that works for both of us.

TAGS: twilight AU, I'm Not Okay AU, Illi McMillin, Frerard, Rayrard, High School AU, soft horror, angst, love triangle.

MASTERPOST FOR THE OTHER CHAPTERS.

Trigger warnings: death mention, blood mention, angst, emotional distress, SA (non-explicit, only implied)

a/N: Chapter of the week!! I really struggled with this chapter bc of my howework and my real job (don't work and study at the same time if you don't need to). I'm lowkey dissapointing that this AU is kinda flopping here, but I'm also posting it on AO3 and well... it has a good quantity of kudos and hits!!! Anyways, enjoy this chapter, we're getting ready to the end, maybe in two chapters more. Who's your favorite one: Ray or Frank??? <3 also, if you know about an artist with open comissions let me know, I'm thinking about illustrating this fanfic c:

Ray's POV playlist

Hunter's Moon - Ghost

Bark at the Moon - Ozzy Osbourne

Your Guardian Angel - The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

Cirice - Ghost

Wolf Like Me - TV on the Radio

Know Your Enemy - Green Day

Cemetery Drive - MCR

Animal Instict - The Cranberries

A Match Into Water - PTV

Snuff - Slipknot

Nothing Else Matters - Metallica

Killing Moon - Echo & The Bunnymen

Closer - NIN

Just as the McMillins had promised their parents, Ray brought them home safe and sound. But once Mikey got out of the car, he held Illi back. She was sitting in the passenger seat when he asked her to stay a few minutes longer.

“I hope you enjoyed the concert. They’re not the real Smiths… but I guess it’s something.”

“Are you kidding? I had an amazing time. After all, it’s the closest I’ll ever get to hearing The Smiths live,” she said, shrugging.

The air grew tense in the silence that followed. Illi was already reaching for the door handle, ready to get out, but Ray stopped her with his large hand.

“Illi, there’s something really important I need to tell you,” Ray said. Illi’s mind raced with a thousand possibilities before he continued.

“I’m… worried. Pretty worried, I’d say. Mikey seems really curious, and I’m guessing you are too.”

“Curious about what?”

“I want to talk about Frank,” he said, pausing to gather his thoughts—after all, he didn’t want to sound like a lunatic. “This thing is really old. So old that not even my parents lived through it. But many, many years ago, it wasn’t just about one Iero—it was an entire clan, a whole family.”

Illi remembered what Frank had told her about “a family matter.”

“They had just arrived, while we’d already been here for a while. Our family had settled in Belleville long before theirs. The Ieros… you know how, according to our beliefs, we come from wolves and all that. So the issue is… the Ieros got involved with the fiancée of one of our own.”

“Is that really why you don’t get along with him?” Illi asked, a hint of irritation on her face as she reached for the car door. “What do wolves have to do with any of this?”

“Wait, wait. I’m not done. I know it sounds ridiculous—just let me finish.”

Illi let go of the door handle and, somewhat against her will, kept listening to what Ray had to say.

“There was a pretty chaotic and violent confrontation. But eventually, they reached an agreement: they wouldn’t cross into certain territory, and they’d leave our people alone. Otherwise… we’d expose their true nature to the others.”

“True nature?”

“Illi, the Ieros are vampires. Every so often, they come back—and they keep attacking whenever they get the chance. So far, they’ve stayed away from our people, but if that idiot gets involved with you… he’d break the agreement.”

Illi couldn’t say anything yet. It sounded ridiculous, but at the same time… maybe it made a little sense.

“I saw Frank at the venue with Abbey…”

“Frank with Abbey?! Ray, you’re taking this way too far,” she snapped, visibly annoyed.

“I saw him flirting with her at the venue.I can show you the security footage if you don’t believe me. I know what I saw, Illi—and Abbey showed up dead not long after, in that same way.”

“That’s enough, Ray. Seriously, I’d had a wonderful night. I don’t understand why you’re bringing this up now, especially when you were so rude to me the last time I mentioned him. I know you get jealous because I talk to him, but this is your problem—between the two of you. Actually, it’s not even your problem! It wasn’t even you who started it!

Don’t drag me into pointless fights, please. I’m your friend, Ray—not something you own.”

Illi burst out, angry and with tears in her eyes. It made her furious that a night of music and joy had ended like this.

She went into her room, sobbing uncontrollably, finding Mikey already getting ready for bed.

“God, what happened?” Mikey asked when he saw his sister in that state, but Illi didn’t answer—her face was buried in her pillow as she sobbed.

Mikey climbed up to the bunk bed to sit beside her. Even though they loved each other deeply, they weren’t very physically affectionate. They showed their care and support in other ways. But this time, Mikey reached out and gently stroked her black hair to comfort her.

“This whole situation with Ray and Frank is just too much,” she said between sobs, pulling away from the pillow. “He told me he saw Frank and Abbey at the venue before she turned up dead.”

Mikey was just as confused as Illi. He couldn’t understand how someone like Abbey would be with Frank in a place like that.

“He said it with so much certainty—he even offered to show me the venue’s security footage. And that hurts. What if it’s true? Abbey hurt me deeply, and I still believe her life shouldn’t have ended like that. But I can’t stand the idea that Frank was with her. What if he hasn’t been honest with me about how close we are?And to top it all off, Ray came out with this nonsense about Frank being a vampire and that he killed Abbey!”

It was too much information for Mikey to process. He understood why his sister was overwhelmed—all those claims sounded completely out of nowhere, even if some of them might be true.

He didn’t really have anything to say. All he could do was listen.

“Besides being stuck between a rock and a hard place… I’m just tired. At first, all this attention felt exciting, but honestly, I can’t take it anymore. I won’t lie to you, Mikey—I do feel something for both of them.”

“You like both of them?” Mikey asked, eyes wide like two big plates.

“It’s not exactly that. But Frank—with all that mystery around him, that intense gaze—and then Ray, with all his gestures and attention toward me…It’s complicated. I’m not looking for anything with either of them, definitely not. But the fact that they can’t stand each other, and that Ray feels so possessive…I don’t know what to think anymore. It’s not my fault what happened generations ago.”

When school days returned, Illi distanced herself from both of them. She didn’t speak to Ray at all, and even though she saw Frank in biology class twice a week, she was the one being cold now, trying to keep her distance.

Both of them felt crushed.

And to make things worse, on a Wednesday, Ray and Frank ran into each other in the bathroom. Though they greeted each other with hateful stares, it was Iero who gave in and chose to speak.

“So Illi’s not talking to you anymore, huh?” Frank said in a surprisingly calm tone—more than Ray had expected. But Ray didn’t respond.

“If it helps… she’s not talking to me either.” Frank, searching for answers, dove straight into Ray’s mind. “Oh, so you told her everything and actually expected her to believe you?”

“Stop reading my thoughts, Frank! It’s none of your business!” Ray snapped, swatting at Frank without thinking about his reflexes.

“Don’t you ever get tired of this? I’m hostile to you because you started it! Before all this, I didn’t even care about you—I saw you like I see everyone else! Illi isn’t to blame for whatever my family did centuries ago! But now you’ve dragged her into it.”

“What you and your family did! You were there too, Frank! You’re a damn murderer, and I won’t let you lay a single finger on Illi! What about Abbey, huh? Everyone at school knew she bullied Illi!What the hell were you doing with her? And then she turns up dead!”

“I would never hurt Illi—never! Not now, not in the thousands of years I might live. And I don’t owe you an explanation about what I was doing with Abbey at the venue. Why should I bother explaining anything when talking to you is like talking to a wall?”

As much as both of them wanted to throw punches, they held back. Not just because they were in the school bathroom—but because Illi would find out, and neither of them wanted to stress her out more than she already was.

“She doesn’t know anything about your… little changes, does she?” Frank asked, still with that challenging tone.

“What changes are you talking about, Iero? I’m nothing like you,” Ray dodged.

“Oh, so now you’re just a completely ordinary, normal human like everyone else? What about howling at midnight, huh? How would you feel if I told Illi that about you? Did you forget who you are, mutt?”

Ray said nothing. He was silent.

Days went by. Illi didn’t speak to Ray, and she kept her distance from Frank—even though it hurt. So much that, every now and then, she cried herself to sleep.

She could’ve easily stuck to the belief that Ray was just crazy, but she couldn’t deny the curiosity she felt about the local folklore. So she began a quiet search for answers, digging through the internet and local libraries. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much information compiled about Belleville itself—only vague mentions that, every few decades, cases like Abbey’s would occur, always tied to rumors of vampires.

But when she expanded her research to the stories surrounding Essex County, she found more records and collections: third-kind encounters, sightings of what seemed to be anthropomorphic wolves in certain areas, haunted places, ghosts, and supposed vampire families originating specifically from Italy.

Illi had always been interested in the supernatural, at least in pop culture. But seeing it framed this way felt far-fetched. Her mind couldn’t quite grasp how anyone could take these stories seriously—Until she came across an archived document. It looked like a newspaper fragment, dated somewhere around the late 1880s.

The headline said it all: “The End of Times Has Come; Young Girl Found Dead with Beast Bites in Nutley.”

Though it was a local paper from back then, it didn’t seem very objective in its conclusions— insisting it was nothing short of a beast, something supernatural and beyond human understanding.

Even if it still felt hard to believe, Illi couldn’t ignore that nervous flutter in her stomach—the kind that, between overthinking and the bits of information she kept uncovering through her quiet research, slowly began to turn into fear.

Now, every time she saw Frank, a chill ran down her spine. She avoided him. Started skipping biology class more often. She couldn’t tell if it was just her imagination or if she was actually running into him everywhere outside of school. Whenever she turned around, suddenly—he was there,like any other person.

In the days surrounding these events, Illi went with Mikey to a new record store that had just opened in a small plaza. It was well-stocked, with everything from pop to the most underground releases. They treated themselves to a few impulsive buys, including Bandwagonesque by Teenage Fanclub and the nearly fresh Project 1950 by Misfits.

While Mikey paid, Illi stepped outside to call their mom, asking her to come pick them up—they’d already made their impulsive purchases for the day.

While she made the call, she didn’t notice the two men watching her from a car in the parking lot. They seemed to be laughing, saying things to each other.

The moment Illi hung up, the two men—probably in their forties—got out of the car, approaching her slowly, like two felines stalking their prey.

It didn’t take long before they started hurling obscenities at her, “inviting” her to spend some time in their car, and saying a thousand other disgusting things.

She had never gone through anything like this before. She was terrified—so much so that the shock kept her from speaking, from moving. Her hands were sweating, and no matter how much she wanted to run or scream for her brother, her body wouldn’t respond. The men were getting closer by the second,and it would’ve been all too easy for them to attack her.

Just as they reached Illi, a sudden gust—like a force of nature—swept the men away, dragging them toward a vacant lot not far from the plaza, where the overgrown weeds kept anything else from being seen.

Between her fear, the shock of the moment, and the lingering suggestion of everything she’d been reading over the past few days, Illi fainted.

When she woke up, she was met with the sterile white lights of the hospital. Beside her was Mikey, who had fallen asleep, and her mom, who quickly called the doctors to let them know Illi was awake.

Just then, Ray walked in—and judging by his expression, he was deeply worried.

“Was it you, Ray?” Illi asked, trying to sit up on the hospital bed, but her mom gently stopped her.

“Me? What did I do?” Ray asked, visibly confused.

“Were you the one who took those guys from the parking lot?”

“Illi, sweetheart, what happened in the parking lot? It’s important you tell me, in case we need to take further action" her mom added.

Illi was trying to piece her thoughts together. “After I called you… two men started saying things to me, disgusting things,” she grimaced, visibly uncomfortable at the memory. “They got out of the car and were about to come closer, and then—poof! something passed really fast and took them both away. I lost sight of them.”

Just then, a commotion could be heard outside—footsteps, maybe even a scuffle—until Frank managed to pull back the curtain and see Illi.

“Are you okay? Do you need me to bring you anything?”he asked, stepping toward her and gently cupping her face with his cold hands. He looked desperate, like he was about to burst.

Illi was more confused than ever. Maybe… maybe he was the gust that swept those men away.

“Um… yeah, yeah. It’s not that serious that I’m here, but I just don’t understand…”

The situation was complex, nearly impossible to explain. So much so that hospital security arrived to escort Frank out for barging into the emergency room. Only this time, he didn’t resist. He didn’t lash out. He let them take him—quietly.

“Who was that boy, kids?” Mrs. McMillin asked, just as confused as everyone else.

“Ummm… he’s a friend of Illi’s. He’s in her biology class,” Mikey replied, fidgeting with his hands.

Ray immediately concluded that Frank had been responsible for what Illi had seen. He didn’t know whether to feel grateful that she’d been kept safe—or furious, with rage pulsing through his fists.

A few hours later, Illi was discharged from the hospital. She was still trying to explain and make sense of what had happened, but to Mikey and her mom, none of it made sense. Not even to her.

Except for Ray. Even though he had to pretend not to know anything, he knew that what Illi was saying wasn’t just imagination—it was the truth.

Ray had left work to go see Illi, so Mrs. McMillin offered to drive him back.

When they arrived, Illi—still a bit weak—decided to walk him to the entrance as a thank-you for coming to see her at the hospital.

“Sorry, Ray. It wasn’t anything serious, but… thanks for worrying about me. I hope I didn’t cause any trouble with your job,” she said, gently scratching at the small mark where the IV had been.

“No, Illi, it’s nothing. Mikey told me and I just did what…”he sighed, “…any friend would do.”

“And now that we’re here… then it wasn’t you, right?”

Ray had the chance of a lifetime to be the hero in Illi’s eyes—and he was tempted. But he chose honesty. How could he love her and lie to her like that?

“No, Illi… I was just about to start my shift at the venue,” he replied, eyes downcast, and left without saying anything else.

Back in the car, on the way home, everything seemed quiet— but everyone’s mind was racing, trying to figure out what the hell had just happened.

Illi knew what she’d seen was real, but it still didn’t quite add up. With everything she’d learned so far, if it hadn’t been Ray… then was it Frank?

It started to make sense— how she kept running into him, how he always seemed to be nearby in his punk getup, maybe always watching over her in his own unorthodox way.

That same night, two lifeless bodies were reported, found in the exact same condition as Abbey: peculiar bite marks, completely drained, no trace of blood.

When the new week began, Illi decided to face her doubts.

During class, she wrote a note on a small piece of paper: “Can we talk after class?” and discreetly slid it onto Frank’s empty notebook.

He picked up his pencil and wrote back: “Yeah, I need to talk to you too.”

“Okay, I’ll meet you at the soccer field bleachers after class (:” she replied.

They went on with the rest of the lesson, and as soon as the bell rang, they packed up their things at the same time—without saying a word. In complete silence, that’s how they made their way to the bleachers. Illi looked into Frank’s eyes, which, for once, were looking directly at her. They were beautiful when he wasn’t frowning.

“I feel silly saying this,” Illi said, shrugging. “It’s absurd, but it’s something I haven’t stopped thinking about.”

Frank lowered his head, ready to hear whatever she had to say.

“I think… I know… what you are.”

It was too late to play dumb. After everything Frank had revealed—what she’d seen, what he’d allowed her to see— if he loved her and truly wanted to be with her, there was no way to keep hiding things.

“Just… please don’t laugh at me if I’m wrong,” she pleaded.

“I would never do that. I’d never do anything that could hurt you in any way,”he said, intertwining his cold fingers with hers— a gesture that made her legs tremble.

“Please… tell me what’s on your mind.”

“You’re a… vampire, aren’t you?”

Frank let out a heavy sigh. He didn’t know how to arrange his words given how delicate the situation was.

“Ever since you and your brother arrived, I knew you two were different from everyone else. While your brother’s mind is full of noise—like radio interference with a thousand thoughts at once—you… you’re just calm. I can’t read you, and I mean that literally. I’m condemned to an endless life of hearing what people think, and in the middle of all that shit, you showed up—silencing the chaos around me. With you, I hear nothing.”

Illi’s face showed a flicker of concern.

“Do you think… there’s something wrong with me?” she asked, uneasy.

“I just told you I read minds, and you think you’re the one with something wrong?” Frank giggled. “It’s a fucking nightmare having to listen to all the stupid shit people think. I can’t shut it off—except when I’m with you.”

“Is that why I never see you at school mass? But what about the sun?” Frank laughed again. “Those are just myths. Vampires aren’t like that" he paused. "But there are a lot of things I can’t hide anymore. Maybe it’s because of how I am that you haven’t noticed, but I genuinely like you, Illi. I really do. I really like you—a lot.”

With unease, but still careful not to hurt her, he cupped her face in his cold hands.

“And hearing everything Abbey and those disgusting old men thought about you… it made me sick. I couldn’t just let it go.”

Illi felt a chill run down her spine. Her feelings were reciprocated— but killing for her, even if it sounded “romantic” on the surface, was something she knew was ethically troubling.

“But you didn’t have to do that. I love you too, Frank…but I don’t know how to process this.”

“If only you knew the kind of horrors those men had planned for you. Abbey too—she had every intention of humiliating you in ways that… even to me, felt inhuman.”

Frank couldn’t stop looking at Illi’s face with tenderness.Her flushed cheeks, her expressive hazel eyes.She smelled so good— so beautiful, so tempting.But he would never hurt her. Not ever.

“Do you still think about Ray too?” Illi hesitated to answer— she was still trying to process everything Frank had said.

“Don’t worry.If you want to be with him, I’ll step back and respect whatever you choose.”

In the silence, with tension and emotion thick in the air, Frank still held Illi’s face in his hands.They slowly closed the distance between them, eyes shut, breaths mingling— their noses just beginning to brush…

Tags: twilight AU, I'm Not Okay AU, Illi McMillin, Frerard, Illi x Frank, Rayrard, Illi x Ray, High School AU, vampire x human, werewolf x human, Gerard Wat x Frank Iero, Gerard Wat x Ray Toro, soft horror, love triangle

MASTERPOST FOR THE OTHER CHAPTERS.

Trigger warnings: death mention, blood mention, bullying, ambiguous morality.

a/N: Here's the chapter of the week!!! Hope you like it <3 btw, I'm also posting this fanfic on AO3 if you want to read it there. I leave you with the third chapter and with Frank's POV playlist.

Frank's POV playlist:

Something I Can Never Have - NIN

Lovesong - The Cure

Creep - Radiohead

When You Don't See Me - Sisters Of Mercy

Just Like Heaven - The Cure

Teenage Kicks - The Undertones

Ever Fallen In Love - Buzzcocks

All We Ever Wanted Was Everything - Bauhaus

The Concept - Teenage Fanclub

Good Good Things - Descendants

She's The Prettiest Girl at the Party, and She Can Prove It with a Straight Hook - Frank Iero

Kiss Me Deadly - Generation X

Abbey’s case took the entire community by surprise. Due to its nature, it was classified as an animal attack, since she lived in an exclusive area near a wooded zone where it wasn’t uncommon for wild animals to occasionally wander into civilization. However, it had been at least 80 years since the last case with similar characteristics to Abbey’s—only back then, multiple bodies had been found with the same traits: bite marks and no blood.

There had been collective panic in the city, especially in the outskirts. It felt like something straight out of a horror story, with the only explanation being that a group of vampires was attacking the population.

The Belleville community in the 1920s didn’t sit idly by. They organized patrols through the forested areas, and some liars claimed to have seen strange, giant creatures among the trees—but nothing could be proven. However, since the victims stopped appearing so abruptly, the authorities concluded that all along, it had simply been wild animals.

Back in 2004, everyone was shaken. The most conspiracy-minded folks brought up the vampire theory again, but the authorities stood firm in their version: an animal attack.

“Well, at least Abbey won’t be bothering anyone anymore. Although I don’t really get why people are suddenly speaking so nicely about her—she was always a bitch,” Mikey said, frowning as he looked at the memorial set up at the school entrance in her honor. “Since when does she deserve all that?”

“Shut up, Mikey,” Illi said, tugging at her brother. “She should’ve been expelled or punished, sure… but I don’t think her life deserved to end like that. It was something really cruel, even if it was by an animal.”

“Well, I think you get what you deserve. So… do you think it could’ve been a vampire?” Mikey said, in a tone that made it hard to tell whether he was joking or not.

“I might like that kind of stuff, but let’s leave it at that, Mikey. Let’s go to class.”

On the other hand, Ray was furious—and a little afraid. To him, it was clear that Frank had been responsible for Abbey’s death. He feared Illi might be next. He didn’t believe for a second that Frank’s interest in his friend was purely romantic or protective, but there wasn’t much he could do without sounding like a lunatic in front of his friends.

He kept it discreet. Every time he crossed paths with Frank at school or at the venue, he couldn’t help but think about the kiss Illi had given him after he gifted her the Lenore comic. Or about when he’d finally gather the courage to confess his feelings. And while it was something he did plan to do, deep down, he mostly wanted to do it just to piss Frank off.

As for Frank, he was finally starting to open up a little more with Illi. From short conversations, they’d moved on to getting along. It hadn’t happened overnight—it took time. But he was showing a more pleasant side, which surprised even his classmates, who knew what he was usually like.

Illi was amazed whenever she dropped something and Frank caught it instantly, like Peter Parker with his spider sense. In fact, she’d done it on purpose a couple of times just to see his reflexes in action.

From cold and distant, he’d become collaborative—though he still hadn’t revealed his true colors completely.

That day, their biology class had been canceled. It was Friday, which meant early dismissal. Even though Illi was dying to get home, procrastinate, and collapse on her bed, Mikey still had one last class—so she had to wait for him.

“You’re heading home, right?” Frank asked, rolling up his sleeves.

“Mmm no, I still have to wait for my brother. Why? Do you need to leave?” she tilted her head gently.

“It’s just… it’s just… I’ll be honest with you. You’ve been the only one here who’s treated me decently. Even though I look like I’ve got a permanent scowl, you’re still so kind to me. But the only chance we get to really talk is in class,” he sighed. “I wanted to know if… we could stay and talk a little more. I think you're a very nice person. I mean it.”

Illi was quite surprised, but kept her usual calm expression. She was willing to chat with him a bit longer. Maybe she’d finally figure out what was going on between him and Ray.

The two of them walked out to the soccer field, where they sat on the bleachers. Illi pulled out a small bag of dried fruit as a snack.

“Want some?” she offered, stretching the bag toward Frank, but he politely declined. “Well, let me know if you change your mind. I’ve never seen you eat.”

“Mmmm… I prefer eating at home. Let’s just say I’m a bit picky with food,” he replied.

Although they sat in silence for a few minutes, the conversation soon began to flow. They realized they had way more in common than they’d imagined.

“So you’re a misfit who goes to a private Catholic school, but at night you sneak off to local punk shows. Kind of ironic, isn’t it?”

“Well yeah, honestly, being here makes me a little uncomfortable. I think that’s part of why I act the way I do. And what about you?”

“That makes sense. As for me… well, I was born here, but then my whole family had to move south for work. During that time, I discovered a lot about myself, you know? Later, I came back here with Mikey, but things aren’t the same anymore. Still, little by little we’ve been adjusting. It felt like starting over, which I think… actually did me some good. But that’s a story for another time.”

Frank listened closely, paying attention to every word she said—but also to her gestures and mannerisms.

“Can I ask you something, Frank?” He nodded slightly.

“Why don’t you get along with Ray?”

Illi expected Frank to react in the most hostile and annoyed way possible, but to her surprise, he answered calmly—almost as if the matter didn’t hold much weight.

“Well, it’s a family thing. The Ieros and the Toros have been around here for a long time. It goes back to our great-great-great-grandparents. But from what I see… he’s very possessive. And honestly, it’s not even my fault.”

Definitely not the answer she was expecting. And while it was true, there were still many things left to uncover. But to avoid sounding nosy or making the whole conversation revolve around that, she changed the subject.

That’s when they discovered they both had a deep love for Iron Maiden—and a shared dream: being in a band. Frank played guitar and already had some experience in other bands, though they never lasted very long.

“I’ve got two tickets for Iron Maiden, Frank. Come with me—it’s on Friday, October 31st,” Illi offered, wearing her signature little smile that always made Frank melt.

“Maybe… I’m not sure because… that day’s my birthday, and I don’t know if my dad’s planning anything,” he replied, scratching his neck nervously at the invitation.

“Don’t say maybe—but it’s fine. Just let me know if you can come with me,” she said, handing him a small slip of paper where she’d written her number. “I know there’s still a while until then, but it doesn’t hurt.”

Just then, the school bell rang.

“Are you doing anything after class?” Frank asked.

“I’m going to the arcade with my brother and Ray. What about you?”

“Nah, I’m just heading home,” Iero replied with a hint of annoyance. “Normally I’d be going to the venue, but tonight there’s a Smiths tribute band playing and… meh, I’ll pass.”

“What?! But it’s The Smiths! Don’t you like them?” Illi asked, pretending to be offended. Frank let out a soft chuckle—it was the first time Illi had ever seen him laugh.

“I’m more of a The Cure guy, Illi. Sorry,” he replied, now with a faint, almost imperceptible smile— a detail that meant a lot to Illi.

They each went their separate ways. Illi pretended nothing had happened, continuing her day like any other. And Frank… well, even though he was still wrapped in his invisible armor of the brooding misfit, after so long—and despite his condition—he felt a certain warmth inside.

At the arcade, Mikey noticed his sister seemed a little distracted, her cheeks slightly flushed, and every now and then she’d flash that same silly little smile he’d seen when Frank gave her back her notebook. He knew his sister so well that it was obvious something had happened. But he figured it was because Ray, in the middle of a Street Fighter match, had invited them to the Friday night show at the venue where he worked— the same Smiths tribute show Frank had refused to attend.

The McMillin parents weren’t too keen on letting them go out that Friday night, especially after what had happened to Abbey and the rumors of a wild animal attacking people. But the siblings pleaded their case, saying, “We just got back to Belleville,” which led to endless begging and promises in exchange for a “yes.” They also made sure to mention Ray, saying he’d be the one to bring them back home. Eventually, they got the green light.

The siblings took the bus to the venue. Ray was already inside, getting ready to serve the attendees. It was still too early to enter, but they’d made sure their names were on the guest list. From the moment Ray was told he could give out complimentary tickets, he’d thought of Illi first. He knew how much she loved The Smiths—Mikey too, sure, but the goal was to surprise Illi more than anyone.

“Hey, Illi,” Mikey said, tugging at the sleeve of her denim jacket. “At the arcade, you seemed kinda off… What happened?”

“What do you mean off? I’ve been really happy,” she replied, brushing her black hair back.

“I saw that silly smile again. Just like when you went to get your notebook from Frank—exact same look. Was it because of Ray?”

Illi swallowed hard. She didn’t answer right away—she took a few seconds before responding. “Mikey, things have happened… but I need you to be really discreet about this.”

Mikey had already imagined that maybe Ray had opened up about his feelings for her, but he wasn’t at all prepared for what his sister was about to say.

“Kid, hold on to your pants because…” Illi’s expression shifted to one of concern, anticipating her brother’s reaction. “I think I like Frank,” she said, no beating around the bush.

Mikey pulled his inhaler out of his jeans pocket.

“It’s just that… he’s really not as awful as he seems. He’s just awkward. And he doesn’t feel comfortable at school—I think you and I both felt that way at some point. Now imagine feeling that since your very first year there, all the way until now.”

“And what about what Ray told you about him? He’ll go nuts if he hears this.”

“Frank explained that it’s a family issue from years ago—ages ago! It’s something not even Ray himself lived through. And honestly, Frank has way more in common with me than you’d think. Just… please don’t tell anyone about this. No one.”

“I know I can be a bit of a gossip sometimes, but I promise nothing will come out of my mouth. On the claw.”

At seven in the evening, the venue doors opened to let people in. Mikey and Illi felt special when they saw their names on the guest list—like they were celebrities from that moment on.

They met up with Ray once inside, but eventually everyone drifted apart. It was the part of the setlist that turned slow and sensitive.

When the band began to play Back to the Old House, Ray focused on Illi among the crowd, watching her enjoy the song with a face that looked happy, yet carried a certain nostalgia in her eyes. Ray wasn’t really into rock bands like The Smiths—he leaned more toward thrash and heavy metal—so he usually didn’t pay much attention to songs like that.

But as Illi swayed gently to the rhythm, the sight felt almost poetic to him: her delicate face lit by a soft blue light, underscored by the melancholic riff repeating over and over. It made him realize that even though Illi was his friend, she was someone a little out of reach for him—almost ethereal.

When the Morrissey impersonator reached that painful line: “And you never knew how much I really liked you,” that damn phrase stuck in Ray’s head, and for a moment, his eyes welled up.

Even though it was just an internal moment for Ray, Illi had no idea what was happening. But there was a third person who was also perceiving both Ray’s emotions and the very same scene of Illi in the pit. Hidden among the crowd and shadows was Frank, who had made a secret appearance.

Though he was just as captivated by the exact same view as Ray, he couldn’t ignore what was going on inside Ray’s head. But this time… he did nothing. He let him be.

Iero had known from the very beginning that Ray would invite them. And even though Illi hadn’t known they were on the guest list during their earlier conversation, it was easy to guess she’d be there.

His reason for going? To watch Illi.

Even though he could’ve gone with her, surprised her, shown her affection— he understood. He felt… just like Ray did.

They were both profoundly different— in the literal sense and in the supernatural one— but they were living the same situation:

tags: twilight AU, I'm Not Okay AU, Illi McMillin, Frerard, Illi x Frank, Rayrard, Illi x Ray, High School AU, vampire x human, werewolf x human, Gerard Way x Frank Iero, Gerard Way x Ray Toro, soft horror.

Trigger warnings: bullying, implied death, blood mention, ambiguous morality, transphobia.

MASTERPOST FOR MORE HERE!!

let me know if you want to be tagged for the next chapters, pls.

a/N: Hey! Here's the second chapter, I know I said that i'll be updating the story every week, but I got a small break for college and instead of making my homework I just wrote this lol. How I said, this is a twilight-ish fanfic, it's basically the same storyline but with obvious changes so it could be more interesting and less predictable once you know the original story. And yes, for those who were wondering, my Illi is a trans girl <3 There's no pic bc it's really hard to find a decent picture of Illi on Pinteres, if anyone is interested on making a fanart of this, that would be so cool!!

PLAYLIST:

When You Sleep - Mira (My Bloody Valentine cover)

Vampires Will Never Hurt You - MCR

Sparks - Coldplay

Demolition Lovers - MCR

In My Room - Julia Wolf

Back To The Old House - The Smiths

All Around Me - Flyleaf (acoustic version)

If Looks Could Kill - A Heartwell Ending

She's The Prettiest Girl at the Party, and She Can Prove It with a Straight Hook - Frank Iero

Starshy - Heavenly

Hold On Till May - PTV

Eyes On Fire - Blue Foundation

Creep - Radiohead

Perfect - The Smashing Pumpkins

Unloveable - The Smiths

Back home, the McMillin siblings shared how their day had gone. While Illi’s day had been mostly calm, Mikey’s was complete chaos—he couldn’t make sense of the little they’d covered in class. He’d never been known for stellar grades, and in such a different environment from what he was used to, it would probably be twice as hard. So he summed up his day in one word: terrible.

On the other hand, Illi didn’t have much to share—until she remembered the little disagreement with Ray.

“Well… I think Ray got mad at me, or I don’t know, something like that,” she said, swinging her legs from the bunk bed.

“At the arcade? I think I noticed. But what did you say to him?” Mikey asked, carelessly munching on some Doritos.

“Ugh, it all started earlier. So, picture this—Frank, the short guy with the ‘I hate you’ face, is my lab partner…”

“Seriously? That’s some awful luck. But what does that have to do with Ray?” Mikey interrupted.

“That’s what I’m getting to—don’t interrupt me, kiddo,” she said, annoyed. “Well, at first he was a total jerk. He threw his stuff around, didn’t say a single word to me, until I caught him staring at me while I was taking notes. I tried to be nice, he pretended not to hear me, but…” she paused dramatically to build suspense for her brother, “Then he asked to borrow my notes and even apologized for being rude.”

“So he admitted he was a jerk. Interesting… but what happened after that?”

“Well, I lent him my notes and he said he’d give me my notebook back tomorrow. He said it all in the dullest way possible, but maybe he’s not a bad person—just kind of stupid when it comes to interacting with others. Anyway, I told Ray about it and he got mad. Like, straight up said he doesn’t want anything to do with him and that I should avoid him.”

“It’s like Ray gives that guy way too much importance. Maybe he knows something we don’t, or I don’t know,” Mikey said, his mouth full and covered in cheese dust. “Bert doesn’t care, I don’t care, but Ray seems really bothered by him. Or maybe… he’s jealous.”

“Oh my god, don’t say that!” Illi exclaimed, her cheeks completely flushed. “How could you even say that?”

Mikey burst out laughing and continued, “Let me put it this way—last time he saw us, we were two chubby kids with snotty noses, and then poof, you changed, you grew up. He doesn’t give a damn about me. I’m his friend, but not even close to how protective he is of you—even though I’m the youngest.”

Illi was completely embarrassed. She buried her face in her pillow. “But don’t say it like that. It’s weird.”

The next day, their new routine repeated itself: half-eaten breakfast, half-hearted grooming, and Ray showed up to drive them to school. He was in a good mood, as if nothing had happened the day before. Maybe he realized he’d overreacted—or maybe the annoyance had just passed.

Illi was worried about her notebook. She was anxious that Frank might’ve forgotten to return it, especially since she hadn’t seen him silently lurking around the hallways like usual.

During one of her class changes, she went to her locker to grab her math notebook. When she opened it, a small yellow slip of paper fell to the floor.

The unwritten rules of teenage life said it was either a love confession… or a love confession that turned out to be a cruel joke.

The first thing Illi thought—after what her brother had said—was that maybe Ray had left her the note.

She picked it up with trembling hands and unfolded it slowly, unsure how to process what she saw inside.

“I’ll see you in the library during lunch to give you your notebook. It’ll be quick. Thanks. –Frank.”

“Wouldn’t it be easier to just give it to me in the cafeteria?” Illi thought. But after all, it was her notebook with all her notes—it wasn’t just some unimportant thing. Truth be told, she was a little nervous about meeting her strange lab partner. Mostly because while everyone else was eating, the library was completely empty—not a single soul.

Her first thought was to ask Mikey to come with her. The second was that she definitely wouldn’t tell Ray.

She wandered through the hallways looking for her brother, and though it took a while to find him, there he was—struggling to pull his blazer out of his locker, where it had gotten stuck.

“Mikey, Mikey!” she called out when she saw her poor older brother trapped. “Why don’t you just open your locker again? You’re going to rip your uniform,” she teased with a playful giggle.

“Ugh… I hate when you’re right and it’s super obvious,” he grumbled, and Illi couldn’t help but laugh. “But why were you looking for me?”

“I’ve got gossip, but I can’t tell you here. I don’t want Ray to see us and find out.”

Mikey finally opened his locker the way he should’ve from the start and followed his sister to the entrance of the school gym.

“Look what I found in my locker,” Illi said, pulling the crumpled note from her blazer. “He wants to meet me in the library just to give me my notebook.”

Her brother was puzzled by the situation, though not as much as she was. “Wouldn’t it have been easier for him to give it to you in the cafeteria, since you don’t share any other classes?”

“You know, I thought the same thing… but just between us, I’m really curious and also kind of scared, you know? What if you come with me?” Illi suggested, nervously biting her nails.

“It’s not like he’s going to bite your neck or anything. The guy’s weird, sure, but I don’t get why you and Ray give him so much attention. Anyway, let’s grab our trays, ask Ray to watch our food, and go. But I’m waiting outside, okay?”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever—just don’t let Ray find out about this. Promise.”

They arrived a little late to their next class, and Illi spent the whole time feeling anxious. Frank was taking up way too much space in her mind, despite barely interacting with him—and those interactions hadn’t exactly been pleasant. He was such a complicated guy, but it was that very hermetic nature, that mysterious aura around him, that kept invading Illi’s thoughts. Her teacher’s voice faded into the background as she spiraled into overthinking.

When lunchtime finally arrived, Illi rushed to the cafeteria to grab her tray. She calmed down a little when she saw Mikey approaching—apathetic as always, but he was there. Once they had their food, they looked for the table where Ray and his friends usually sat. Though they hadn’t arrived yet, the siblings went ahead and claimed their seats.

Ray showed up shortly after with his friend Bert. They’d been held up because their teacher wouldn’t let them leave without finishing an activity.

“Ray, my brother and I need to check on some… administrative stuff, and we were wondering if you could watch our food. We won’t be long.”

Ray agreed without much fuss, and the siblings darted off toward the library.

Just like he’d said from the start, Mikey stayed outside—but being nosy, he peeked through the small window in the door.

Inside, Illi didn’t see anyone except the librarian—a middle-aged woman deeply focused on her computer, wearing headphones that betrayed she was listening to “Total Eclipse of the Heart.”

Illi had to walk past the computer desks to find the grumpy boy.

Before she could even tap his shoulder, Frank turned around. Illi gave him a crooked, nervous smile and greeted him with a barely audible “hi.”

“Thanks for lending me your notes,” he said, handing her notebook back with a cold gesture.

“No problem. I hope they were helpful,” she replied kindly, taking her notebook. “Don’t you think it would’ve been easier to just give it to me in the cafeteria?”

The question caught Frank off guard—mostly because he hadn’t expected anyone to want to keep a conversation going with him. He’d always been hostile toward people, and people toward him. But Illi seemed persistent in being kind, treating him normally despite his obvious apathy. She wasn’t just immune to Frank—she was different in every way.

“It’s just… your friends are there, and let’s just say… I don’t get along with them. I’d rather not get you into trouble,” he replied, his voice slightly nervous. “I think your brother’s getting impatient. You should go to him.”

“My brother? How do you know he’s here?” Illi asked, genuinely surprised.

“Mmm… I just guessed.” In truth, Mikey’s thoughts were loud—completely the opposite of his sister’s. And not only were they loud, they were many. He was thinking about being tired, wondering why Illi was taking so long, feeling hungry, and debating whether or not to watch the Dodgers game. It was a flood of information for Frank.

Illi found it a little funny, though still strange. She said goodbye and began to walk away.

“Hey,” Frank called out—not loudly, but just enough to catch her attention again. “Ray’s just your friend, right?”

“Ray? Yeah. Why?”

“Just curious,” he replied with his usual cold tone.

“Mmmm… okay, I guess. See you later.” Though she tried to play it cool with her goodbye, Frank’s curiosity stirred something in her—something a little exciting, even if it was coming from him. After all, Frank wasn’t unattractive. He was actually kind of handsome. What ruined it was his strange attitude.

Once Illi reunited with her brother, Mikey couldn’t help but notice the silly little smile on her face.

“What did he say?” Mikey asked, trying to get a closer look at her face.

“He just gave me the notebook and…”

“And…? God, I need to know!” Mikey exclaimed, hungry for gossip—and also for his lunch.

“He asked if Ray was just my friend. He also said he chose the library because he doesn’t get along with Ray or his friends,” she said. “Before we go back to the cafeteria, we need to drop off my notebook in the locker or Ray will notice.”

“Well, it’s obvious Ray’s your friend, isn’t it?” Mikey said, a bit incredulous.

“You don’t get what that means, Mikey. Things like this don’t happen to girls like me,” she said with a mix of excitement and innocent wonder.

The day came to an end, and once again Ray drove the siblings home. He let Mikey go inside but asked Illi to wait a few minutes. With both of them still in the car, he reached into the glove compartment and pulled out a small book.

“Yesterday I went to Barnes & Noble and found this comic—it reminded me of you. It’s called Lenore,” he said, handing it to Illi with a shy smile she had never seen on him before. “I was really rude to you yesterday. I saw how serious you got. I hope you can forgive me. I let myself get carried away… by impulsiveness.”

Illi was amazed by Ray’s gift. She used to own a few volumes of that comic, but they’d gotten lost during the move. Even though she was still a little upset about his reaction the day before, this gesture felt sweet. Still, she couldn’t stop thinking about what Mikey had said earlier.

“Oh, Ray… this is really sweet of you. You didn’t have to,” Illi said with her signature smile.

“I did have to. Honestly, I felt awful all day yesterday for snapping at you.”

Illi gave him a small kiss on the cheek as a thank-you. It wasn’t meant to be a bold gesture—just a tender one, with no expectations attached. Ray was caught off guard. After all the fist bumps they used to exchange to say goodbye, now… it was a kiss.

“Illi… what the fuck was that?” Mikey asked as she walked in, blushing and clutching her comic book. Luckily—or unluckily—Mikey had seen everything through the window.

“It was just a little kiss, that’s all. Just a thank-you and goodbye,” she replied, brushing it off. “Did you tell him I lost my Lenore comics?”

“Maybe,” he shrugged.

As the days went by, the siblings began to adjust to their new school environment. Even though the change had been drastic, it wasn’t all that bad. Illi started hanging out with a few new friends, and Mikey slowly formed his own small group, which occasionally merged with Ray and his crew. That meant the siblings also had after-school outings—to arcades, grabbing food, playing D&D in someone’s basement, or just goofing around in stores.

And as for Frank—well, he was still curt, but he was a decent lab partner for Illi. Not exactly friendly, but not rude either. At least now it was possible to have a short conversation with him.

However, the good times didn’t last long. Not everything was sunshine and rainbows—like in every high school, there were awful people.

Abbey was a senior known for picking on younger students. Unfortunately, even though Illi kept to herself, she ended up in Abbey’s crosshairs for a while—under the excuse that she wasn’t a “normal girl.” Her attacks consisted of hallway insults, phrases like “you’ll never be one of us” whenever they “coincidentally” crossed paths, or shoving her out of the bathroom.

Though her words clearly affected Illi, she tried to ignore her. Still, she felt vulnerable—not knowing how to defend herself.

Of course, her close circle stood up for her—especially her brother, and occasionally Ray.

Things started to feel strange once Ray began his part-time job selling popcorn at a small venue. To his surprise—and annoyance—almost every week he’d run into Frank, who came to listen to the punk bands playing there. Though they exchanged deadly glances, they did their best to avoid each other.

Unlike the rest of their classmates, Ray knew Frank far too well. But it was a problem that had… passed down almost like a generational curse. Natural-born enemies, so to speak. Ray was fully aware of Frank’s supernatural situation.

At one of those small shows, Frank was wandering around the venue accompanied by… Abbey? Ray didn’t take it well. He knew Frank and Illi were relatively decent lab partners, and it was hard to believe someone like Abbey would show up at a place like that—with Frank, of all people.

Ray had never seen Frank act like that before. He strutted around like a bird trying to court someone. Ray knew that once school was over, Frank transformed—chains, makeup, studs, patches, slogans. But this scene felt truly bizarre.

Frank knew exactly what he was doing—with Abbey, and with provoking Ray.

At one point, Frank headed quickly to the bathroom, and Ray managed to slip away from his post to confront his rival.

“What are you trying to do?” Ray asked, stopping him at the bathroom entrance. “You do know she bullies Illi, right? Are you two teaming up to mess with her?”

“She matters too much to you to be just your friend, don’t you think?” Frank replied, with his usual cold, expressionless stare. “I know what you think about her. I hear how you want her, and how it pisses you off that I talk to her.”

“I asked you something. Answer me,” Ray demanded.

“I’m going to do what you haven’t been able to do from the start. Now let me through,” Frank said, shoving Ray aside.

Though it didn’t escalate further, Ray wasn’t entirely at ease. He searched for Frank among the mosh pit and the sea of mohawks and spiked hair— but by the time the show ended, Frank had vanished.

The weekend passed quietly for the McMillin siblings—just catching up on homework and playing video games while sipping Mountain Dew. The school week began, and Abbey didn’t bother Illi because she didn’t show up to class on Monday. The hallways buzzed with rumors: some said she was sick, others claimed she had a giant pimple on her forehead.

CHECK MY MASTERPOST FOR MORE!!!

tags: twilight AU, I'm Not Okay AU, Illi McMillin, Frerard, Illi x Frank, Rayrard, Illi x Ray, High School AU, vampire x human, werewolf x human, Gerard Way x Frank Iero, Gerard Way x Ray Toro.

A/n: Yoooo! How are you! As I promised, here is the first chapter of this Twilight-ish fanfic with my girl Illi, that in case you don't know, that is the name of Gerard's character in the "'I'm Not Okay" MV and there's a headcanon where that character is actually a girl, which I find lovely. And another thing, this fanfic has a playlist so you can listen to it while you read this chapter and the nexts. And btw, if there's a better pic to illustrate the fanfic let me know bc I struggled to find nice pictures as you can see lol.

Hope you like it, I'll try to update it every week so stay tuned. Love u, guys <3

PLAYLIST:

When You Sleep - Mira (My Bloody Valentine cover)

Vampires Will Never Hurt You - MCR

Sparks - Coldplay

Demolition Lovers - MCR

In My Room - Julia Wolf

Back To The Old House - The Smiths

All Around Me - Flyleaf (acoustic version)

If Looks Could Kill - A Heartwell Ending

She's The Prettiest Girl at the Party, and She Can Prove It with a Straight Hook - Frank Iero

Starshy - Heavenly

Hold On Till May - PTV

Eyes On Fire - Blue Foundation

Creep - Radiohead

Perfect - The Smashing Pumpkins

Unloveable - The Smiths

The McMillin family was back in Belleville after having lived in the South for several years due to work.

Although they had grown used to the heat and the Southern lifestyle, returning to gray New Jersey would be a challenge.

To begin with, Illi and Mikey would be entering as a junior and sophomore, respectively, at a completely new school—prestigious, religious, and private.

Nothing like their previous public school in the South, where everyone wore whatever they wanted.

Here, it would be the complete opposite: strict rules and uniforms.

Fortunately, the McMillins wouldn’t be alone—they’d be reunited with their childhood friend, Ray Toro.

Seeing their old friend again made it clear that everything had changed.

Ray had always been laid-back and kind-hearted, and while he used to look just as nerdy as the McMillins, now he had grown into a tall, broad-shouldered guy—almost intimidating.

But he was still the same sweet nerd at heart.

Ray was also surprised to see how much Mikey had changed—now tall and slender—while Illi had blossomed, shifting Ray’s perception of her from childhood friend to a beautiful girl.

Even though they were now in a more “secure” and “controlled” school environment (in heavy quotation marks), the McMillins quickly became the talk of the school.

Not just because they were new, but because of their peculiar personalities—naturally introverted and barely speaking to anyone outside of Ray and his very small circle of friends.

However, there seemed to be a rival in terms of introversion.

Hidden among the hallways or slouched at his desk was Frank—a deeply reserved boy who always wore a look that screamed “I hate everyone” without saying a word.

Nobody liked Frank because of his hostility, but no one messed with him either—and vice versa.

Still, from the very first day the McMillins arrived at school, Frank made no effort to hide his obvious annoyance at their presence.

“What’s up with the pale little guy? He hasn’t stopped staring at us like that,” Mikey asked, stabbing his fork into the sad spaghetti on his tray, visibly confused by Frank’s unwavering gaze.

“Oh… that’s just Frank. He looks at everyone like that. It’s just your turn now since you’re the new kids, I guess,” replied Bert, one of Ray’s friends.

“That guy’s always rubbed me the wrong way, and I really don’t like how he won’t take his eyes off you. Someone needs to put him in his place,” Ray snapped, clearly irritated.

While Mikey brushed it off, Illi felt curious.

From time to time, she glanced discreetly in Frank’s direction, only to meet his gaze.

She noticed he was alone—everyone else was eating with friends, but not him.

He didn’t even have food on his tray. He was just… existing.

She wanted to ask more about this mysterious boy, but knew it might come off as strange, so she decided to wait until someone eventually told her more—or to find out for herself.

When the bell rang, the cafeteria emptied out.

The students headed to their respective classrooms, but Frank took his time getting up from his seat.

Illi arrived on time for her biology class, which was held in the lab.

Everyone else shared a table with someone, but since she didn’t know anyone, Illi sat alone.

She wouldn’t say it out loud, but it was clear she felt a little sad about not having a lab partner—no one seemed willing to sit with her.

“Well, it’s the first day,” said Mr. Sparks, giving her a gentle pat on the shoulder to comfort her.

“There are still a few students who haven’t arrived.”

While the teacher wrote down important dates, grading policies, and the syllabus, the lab door swung open abruptly, revealing the serious and nearly expressionless Frank.

In a low, monotone voice, he apologized for being late.

“Sit next to the young lady, Mr. Iero,” the teacher instructed.

“I hope being late doesn’t become a habit this year.”

Frank quickly scanned the lab to find the girl who would be his lab partner—only to unexpectedly meet Illi’s wide eyes staring back at him.

With a bit of heaviness, he walked over and dropped his things onto the table, startling Illi with his brusqueness.

Usually, Frank could read everyone’s mind.

He could decipher people in seconds—the average teenager’s thoughts were full of nonsense, which gave Frank a sense of superiority over his classmates.

But with Illi, it was different.

When he looked at her, it was as if the thousands of voices in his head simply went silent.

While she focused on taking notes in her notebook, Frank glanced at her sideways, trying to dig into her mind.

But every attempt failed—until Illi caught him staring.

“Do you want me to share my notes?” she whispered, momentarily distracted from the class.

But she got no response.

Frank just pretended not to hear, which she found rude.

When class ended and everyone packed up to head to their last period, Illi did the same.

Disappointed by her new lab partner, she was already considering switching biology to a different time slot—or even working alone.

But the grumpy Frank caught her off guard.

“Could I borrow your notes?” he asked in his monotone voice.

“It’s just… I couldn’t focus,” he added through clenched teeth.

Illi stared at him, surprised—not just because he was speaking to her, but because she hadn’t understood a word due to his terrible diction.

“Sorry, what? I didn’t catch that.”

“Can I borrow your notes from today? I couldn’t pay attention,” Frank repeated, a bit louder, still avoiding eye contact.

“Oh… sure, take them and give them back tomorrow,” Illi replied kindly, offering a faint sideways smile as she handed him her notebook.

“Just don’t forget, okay?”

“Thanks,” Frank said, taking the notebook.

“And sorry if I was rude to you. See you tomorrow.”

Without waiting for Illi to respond, Frank walked off, leaving her puzzled and intrigued, her backpack slung over one shoulder.

Maybe Frank just needed a chance.

Though the McMillin siblings had a rough and strange start, they remained cautiously optimistic that things would get easier with time.

Since their car was still in the shop, Ray offered to drive them home.

But first, they’d stop by the arcade after school to unwind from their stressful first day.

Once there, it became the happiest moment of the day.

Just like old times, they played at the arcade—which, despite the years, still had most of its games.

While Mikey went to buy popcorn for the three of them, Ray and Illi got ready to play a motorcycle game.

“You won’t believe what happened in biology class,” she said, climbing onto one of the bikes.

“Frank is my lab partner.”

“Ugh… what a pain. Let’s see if you can actually work with him. That guy never does anything,” Ray scoffed.

“Actually, I lent him my notes because he didn’t write anything down. He even apologized for being rude since he didn’t say a word to me the whole class.

Maybe he’s not as stubborn as people say,” Illi said with her signature soft, sideways smile.

“He apologized?” Ray asked.

“You really gave him your notes? I can’t believe it,” he continued, visibly annoyed—both in his expression and tone.

“Well, be careful with that guy. If I were you, I’d ask to switch partners or something. Don’t trust him too much. If you can avoid him, do it.”

“Oh come on, Ray! Maybe he’s not that bad.”

Ray was clearly upset.

Everyone knew Frank was like that with everyone, but no one seemed to care as much as Ray did about his insufferable attitude.

Or rather, Ray wouldn’t have cared so much—if he hadn’t known Frank would be interacting with Illi.

“Look, Illi, I really don’t want anything to do with that loser. Especially if you’re talking to him or doing whatever with him.”

Illi’s small smile faded at Ray’s indifference.

She had hoped he’d listen to her like he usually did.

tags: angst, time traveling au, gerard way x female reader.

Check de Masterpost for the rest of the chapters!!!!

TW: emotional distress, angst, therapy mentions and longing

Y/N’s case had become a media sensation—first at her university, then throughout the city, then in nearby towns, until the story reached the entire country.

Of course, the news outlets only framed it as “the girl who disappeared from her dorm room,” never digging deeper.

And Y/N was far too devastated to speak publicly about what had really happened—besides, they’d think she was insane.

She went from being an average college student to something of a circus attraction.

Eventually, she came to the conclusion that she had returned to her time because, after being intimately close with Gerard, she had entered a state of deep relaxation—similar to the meditative state that had triggered her journey in the first place.

The abrupt separation from Gerard had left her visibly shaken.

She had to pause her studies due to harassment from classmates and professors, abandoned her research, and began attending therapy for a long time.

She also distanced herself from anything related to My Chemical Romance, so she had no idea what consequences her journey had left behind.

To begin with, Y/N had left a profound mark on Gerard’s life.

He never forgot her.

He left traces of her in every piece of work—songs, illustrations, comics.

Every path led back to her.

From time to time, Y/N was vaguely mentioned in interviews, and for years Gerard held onto the hope that he might see her again.

Even as time passed, he would scan every crowd, searching for her face.

The echoes of Y/N were always present in some way, though Gerard remained silent out of respect for his later partners.

Still, he rarely formed a connection as deep and complete as the one he had with Y/N.

After all, the predictions she had made about his life came true—just a little slower than they were supposed to.

Despite her progress in therapy and moving back in with her parents in her hometown, Y/N cried for him every night.

She would sit by the window and watch the sun rise, thinking about how much she wished he were beside her again—how much she longed to spend her nights wrapped in his arms, by the fire, lost in deep conversation.

Unlike Gerard, Y/N’s heart never reopened.

Her life felt hollow, despite the support of those around her.

To channel her grief, she began writing her story.

She spent hours at her computer—typing, deleting, revising—until she began publishing it anonymously on Tumblr as a novel.

She changed names and details so no one would suspect anything.

Because of its emotional depth and originality, the story was warmly received.

It started with a handful of readers, then grew into thousands—people who read every chapter religiously, eagerly awaiting updates.

Though everything was anonymous, some fans speculated that the story was about My Chemical Romance, based on certain details and the few things the band had revealed in past interviews.

But Y/N never confirmed or denied it.

In fact, she avoided answering those kinds of questions altogether.

When the story finally came to an end after a long year, Y/N received a message asking for her email address.

It was a serious and promising offer, but they needed a professional channel to contact her.

Her mind raced with possibilities—maybe MCR’s team had found the novel and wanted it taken down.

But… it was actually a publishing house, deeply interested in turning her story into a book.

It felt like a ray of sunlight piercing through her life—a sign that things might finally get better.

Gerard’s impact on her had been monumental.

But to move forward with the process, she would have to let go of her anonymity.

Though many had forgotten her disappearance, Y/N still feared public scrutiny—that her face and name would once again become a topic of conversation.

But her intuition told her she was on the right path.

So, after two years, Y/N took another leap of faith and signed the contract with the publisher.

While the story catered to a very specific niche, her loyal readers were thrilled to hold the material in their hands—to read it all over again as if for the first time.

They were also excited to finally learn who had been behind the novel, beyond a vague username and a profile picture that revealed little.

The publisher had made the right choice.

Just as they had predicted, the copies sold like wildfire.

Readers couldn’t get enough.

It wasn’t enough to simply own the book—the publisher wanted her to go on a tour across various U.S. cities for book signings.

She visited New York, Boston, Michigan, Chicago, Austin, Dallas, Seattle—and ended her tour in Los Angeles.

The signing in Los Angeles was special.

It wasn’t just a book signing—it included a Q&A session, giving many lucky fans the chance to ask questions about the story.

One more car pulled into the parking lot of that Barnes & Noble.

The driver struggled to find a spot, as the event had filled most of them.

He finally found one a bit far from the entrance, which frustrated him slightly—but he needed to pick up some calligraphy supplies.

Entering discreetly, he found himself surrounded by a sea of young people asking questions.

He didn’t pay much attention and headed straight to the section he was looking for.

“How did such a specific plot come to you?” asked one of the young attendees.

“It has such precise details—unusual, in a good way, of course—but I’d love to know how the idea came about.”

The question stirred a faint ache in Y/N’s stomach.

“Oh… well, there are details I can’t reveal too openly, or people will think I’ve lost my mind,” she said, prompting laughter from the crowd.

She paused, licking her lips and gathering her thoughts.

“I lost someone I never thought I’d even meet in my lifetime—just like my protagonist and… Bernard.

There were so many things keeping us apart.

It was something that devastated me, and to be honest, it still hurts a lot.

But considering everything we went through, and all the pain, I wanted to turn my sadness into something beautiful.”

Y/N’s voice echoed through the bookstore.

Upon hearing it, the man who had come for supplies paused, his thoughts swirling and his heart racing.

He dropped the small basket he’d been carrying and tried to push through the crowd—but it was impossible.

Between the heads of the attendees and the low stage, the man in dark sunglasses couldn’t see who was speaking.

“So, if you’re saying this basically happened in real life… what happened to the real Bernard?” asked a girl around fifteen or sixteen.

Y/N raised her eyebrows, wondering if she’d revealed too much.

“Mmm… as far as I know, he’s a successful man.

He achieved his dream, and I’m truly proud of him.

But we lost contact, so all I know is that he’s out there, living his best life,” she replied with a soft smile—though her eyes clearly held the weight of nostalgia.

The man gave in and quickly bought a copy of the book, which would grant him access to the signing—he needed to put his doubts to rest once and for all.

But the moment he saw her name on the cover, he knew everything he needed to know.

The moderator closed the Q&A session and announced the start of the signing.

In no time, the line stretched long, and unfortunately, the mysterious man ended up near the very end.

Though nerves were devouring him, he waited. And waited.

Y/N took her time signing each book.

Though tiring, she was deeply moved that her story had reached so many people and had been so warmly received.

Some even compared her success to the first Twilight novel, which was an enormous compliment to her.

She saw young faces, older ones too—all smiling from ear to ear, offering kind words full of gratitude.

Until finally, the man in the sunglasses stepped forward.

“For whom should I dedicate the signature? For you, or someone else?” Y/N asked cheerfully, opening the book without yet lifting her gaze.

“Uh… yeah… um…” he stammered, his voice trembling as he tried to steady his visibly shaking hands.

“It’s for…”

He was interrupted by the start of the next song on the event’s ambient playlist—none other than Cut Here by The Cure.

“Oh, sorry—I couldn’t hear you over the music. Who’s the signature for?”

At that moment, Y/N lifted her gaze and found herself face to face with a much older Gerard.

His hair was its natural chestnut brown, with a few silver strands beginning to show.

Her eyes lit up, but she couldn’t speak. She was frozen, mouth slightly agape.

He slowly removed his sunglasses, and that’s when she saw it.

Though time had gently etched itself onto his face, his hazel eyes looked at her just as they had when he stepped out of the recording booth all those years ago.

That same tender gaze—one that didn’t need words to say a thousand things.

“I found you,” he said, locking eyes with her—realizing that, just like him, Y/N had preserved her essence, though she had visibly changed.

She’d lost a bit of weight, her hair had grown longer, and her face looked more mature.

Y/N was still overwhelmed. She wanted to throw herself into his arms and never let go, but she knew that might be inappropriate. After all this time, he had built a life of his own.

Besides, she had to maintain a degree of discretion—no one else in the room had realized it was Gerard Way standing before her.

“I know this is hard. You don’t have to say anything, Y/N,” he said gently. “But I want you to know… I’m really happy to see you again.”

As it was getting late, the event organizer announced the end of the signing.

Those who hadn’t gotten their books signed—thankfully just a few—would receive a signed copy by mail.

This gave Gerard a little more time to speak with her, though Y/N could barely string together a few sentences.

“So… did you finish your studies? What happened with your research?” he asked, hungry to catch up on her life.

“Gerard… I had to give it all up. Life hasn’t been easy for me,” she replied, avoiding his gaze as she carefully tucked her things into her bag.

“It was either that… or spend the rest of my life in a psychiatric hospital.”

“I don’t think it was easy for either of us, Y/N,” he said after a pause.

“After all, it’s not exactly simple to process how someone… just disappears from your arms overnight. Watching that happen—it really shook me.

So much so that, in one way or another, I’ve immortalized it in everything I’ve done.

There are references to you everywhere, if you listen or look closely.”

Though she had distanced herself from everything related to him, the biggest shift in the timeline was that many things were born—or took on new meaning—because of her.

Even if, on the surface, nothing seemed drastically different.

One of those details was Number Five and his ability to travel through time.

Gerard had also requested that Klaus Hargreeves’ time-travel arc be included in The Umbrella Academy adaptation—where Klaus travels to the Vietnam War and falls in love with a soldier.

But their love is cut short by death, leaving Klaus deeply wounded for the rest of his life.

Songs like My Way Home Is Through You or This Is How I Disappear were born from Y/N’s constant fear and guilt about hurting Gerard.

What had to happen, happened—but in a different way.

Gerard no longer missed Y/N romantically, but he still remembered her with deep affection and warmth.

Even though it was comforting to see that both of them were thriving, just seeing him stirred so many feelings in her—memories and questions.

She knew everything could be solved easily if she went back in time.

After all, she now knew how to do it—and how to return.

But it would come with great responsibility.

When she arrived at her hotel, she ordered dinner from room service and locked herself in her room to rest.

With the lights off and the television as her only light and company, she browsed for something to watch.

She found Gremlins, but no matter how many times she hit play, the screen kept loading Back to the Future Part III instead—as if by some glitch.

Y/N had always rejected anything related to time travel.

But seeing the stubbornness of the TV, she decided to give it a small chance.

The movie didn’t help her emotional state at all.

In the end, Doc chooses to stay in the past to be happy with Clara Clayton—the woman he fell in love with in the Old West—regardless of what consequences that might bring to the future.

Yet he never forgets his friends in the present, traveling between past and future.

And that gave Y/N an idea.

In the notes app on her phone, she wrote:

“I just received a very tempting offer to adapt the book into a movie or series, so my stay in Los Angeles will be extended.

I think I’ll need to rent an apartment here to oversee everything.

There’s a lot of paperwork, so I’ll be a bit absent—but don’t worry, I’ll visit as soon as I can.”

The next step was to fulfill at least 50% of that note—just enough to make it believable.

Fortunately, Y/N could afford to rent or even buy an apartment in a prime area, thanks to the success and recognition of her book.

After all, she was no longer “the girl who disappeared”—she was now “Y/N, the writer.”

She spent her days in L.A. reflecting on what to do next.

She wasn’t sure what the future held, and she didn’t want to return to her parents’ house—not because she didn’t love them, but because it was time to move on, especially now that she had the financial means to do so.

The idea of traveling through time again was tempting—maybe just once more.

But she also knew it would be a whim, so she asked for a sign.

One that would be clear and unmistakable.

That sign, apparently, never came.

Months passed, and she traveled back and forth between her hometown and Los Angeles, until she finally found a well-located apartment in the city.

On the very day she received her long-awaited keys, she decided to celebrate her independence by going to one of those pretentious Italian restaurants—where the pizzas are wood-fired with the finest herbs, and the pasta has more lettuce than cheese.

All for herself.

Scattered throughout the restaurant were televisions, but none could be heard over the chatter of the diners.

With no one to talk to, Y/N decided to pay attention to whatever was playing—luckily, the subtitles were on.

After a string of exhausting commercials, bold letters announced the next film: Back to the Future Part III.

And with a sip of her orange juice, she thought: I know what I have to do, the aftermath is secondary.

That same night, in her new apartment—though a bit luxurious—it still felt somewhat bare due to the lack of furniture.

But with her bed, headphones, and phone, Y/N had everything she needed to try one more time.

Before beginning, she packed a backpack with enough clothes and cash to carry with her during the journey.

She took a shower, put on something cute yet comfortable, got herself ready—and finally, after all that time, it was time to return.

With her phone tucked into her pants pocket and her backpack gripped in one hand, the sensation was exactly the same as before: colors, sensations—until, suddenly, she landed backstage at what appeared to be a venue.

People bustled around, moving equipment, pushing carts filled with props or food.

Everyone was too busy to even question how a girl had suddenly appeared there.

Y/N was now in 2007—during the Black Parade era.

“I loved the crowd tonight, didn’t you?” a voice echoed from afar—one Y/N didn’t recognize.

“They actually sang this time. Not like that festival where everyone was… I don’t know, just bored,” Ray replied.

“Yeah… that’s why I don’t really like festivals. They make me nervous,” added Frank, seemingly mid-bite into a snack.

Though she recognized some voices, she didn’t hear Gerard’s.

But Y/N decided to keep waiting.

Then, riding in on a golf cart, the band arrived.

They all seemed happy and satisfied with the show—except for Gerard.

His hair was short again, dyed black.

He looked… confused, quiet, maybe even a little dissociated.

At first, the guys didn’t notice her presence—they were too focused on their conversation and getting off the cart.

Until Mikey looked up and saw Y/N holding her backpack.

“Hey… I know you,” he said, pointing at her as she waved.

“Y/N! The girl from the future! Hey! How are you?”

Gerard felt a sharp pang in his stomach at the sound of her name.

It pulled him out of his daze, and he turned to see Y/N.

And there she was.

And once again, from that heavy, distant gaze—he looked at her with tenderness.

Everyone was happy to see Y/N again—after all, they had grown fond of her, and still didn’t fully understand what had really happened. They even introduced her to Bob.

But of course, the most moved of all was Gerard.

“Y/N, it’s been almost three years since I first saw you, and I swear there hasn’t been a single day I haven’t thought about you… and everything we went through.”

“I know, Gee,” she replied in a near whisper, slowly reaching for his hand.

“It’s so… awful not being able to tell the truth because you know no one will believe you. I had to keep it all to myself, even with psychiatrists, psychologists, the police, and gossipers breathing down my neck after I disappeared.”

“So… you didn’t do any of the things you loved?”

“Mmm, no. But eventually life rewarded me. I won’t tell you how, because I don’t want to make the same mistake I did the first time,” she laughed softly.

“But there hasn’t been a single night or day I haven’t thought about you. That’s why I’m here again.”

Gerard opened up to Y/N as well, telling her something similar to what the Gerard from her future had once said:

“There are references to you everywhere, if you listen or look closely. And there always will be.”

The moment had become overwhelming.

The exhaustion from the show, the crowd, and Y/N’s return—though hopeful—brought a flood of emotions all at once.

“I have an idea,” he said, gripping Y/N’s hand tightly.

“I know I’m sweaty and still wearing stage makeup—I don’t care. Let’s run away from here and figure it out later. Please, let’s just run far away.”

She intertwined her fingers with his, adjusted her backpack, and as soon as they had the chance, they ran toward the venue’s most hidden exit.

They did cross paths with a few paparazzi cameras that captured the moment for posterity, but they kept running until they were both out of breath.

Between laughter and gasping for air—neither of them had run that much in their lives—they realized that even though they had changed so much, physically and emotionally, the love had never left.

They sealed their reunion with a kiss that made up for nearly three years of absence in each other’s lives.

And though they knew the consequences might ripple through time in a few years, in that moment, they were the happiest and most in-love people in the world.

“Wait…” Gerard broke the kiss almost abruptly.

“I just thought of another song,” he paused to concentrate, then murmured,

“Run away like it was yesterday… Mmm, yeah, something like that. Remind me to write it down when we get to the hotel, okay?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll note it in my phone,” she said with a wide smile, pulling out her smartphone.

The End.

Author's note: I'm just going to say this: sorry.

*check the masterpost for the rest of the chapters!!!

WARNINGS: alcohol consumption, emotional distress, soft smut, anxiety, drugs consumption. MINORS DNI

By this point, Y/N still hadn’t figured out how to return. She tried a similar kind of meditation, but it didn’t help—especially since she was almost always worried, and deep down, she didn’t truly want to go back to her own time. She had found the love of her life in a time that wasn’t hers. She knew that staying would cause a temporal disaster, but the band—and Gerard himself—made it all feel worth it.

Since there was no “return date,” the band would occasionally leave the cabin and head into town to buy essentials for both Y/N and themselves. After a while, it stopped being practical for Frank to lend his clothes to their special guest.

The band had nearly finished the album. Along the way, they kept re-recording songs or discarding them to shape the final product. There was one song in particular they knew would be devastating—but it still wasn’t quite right, especially for Gerard. In our timeline, Gee turned to substances and self-harm to feel the pain behind his lyrics. But now, with Y/N around, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t sing about the heartbreak of a hopeless soul. He simply couldn’t feel it. And hurting himself was no longer an option. Gerard wanted to stay as sober as possible, knowing Y/N could leave at any moment. He wanted to remember their time together vividly. So the song kept getting postponed.

There were only two options left for that track: record two more takes or scrap it entirely. Leaving it out of the album would mean a HUGE shift in the timeline.

To the band, it was obvious that something was going on between Gerard and Y/N. They’d catch glimpses of cuddles here and there, or notice how they stayed up late talking—outside the cabin, in the living room, or in their rooms. But it never went beyond kisses and quiet affection.

Gerard was torn about what to do with that final song.

“I mean… maybe it’s a toxic way to create,” he said, collapsing onto his bed while Y/N sat at its edge. “But I feel like it’s pointless if I’m not singing what I feel, you know? I can’t sing about pain if I don’t feel it. It wouldn’t be honest.”

He looked up at her. “By any chance… does the song end up on the album? Does it sound good?”

“We agreed I wouldn’t give you any more details about the future, Gee,” Y/N replied, tilting her head with a soft, understanding smile.

“I know, I know, but I just want to know that,” he pouted, trying to win her over. “Please? I haven’t asked you anything else.”

Y/N sighed and replied, “Alright. If it’s the song I think it is… it’s beautiful. It hurts, but it’s breathtaking.”

Gerard let out a relieved breath and buried his face in his hands. “Then why the hell can’t I get a single take right?”

“Don’t push yourself too hard. It’ll come, and it’ll be perfect. Trust me. The more you force it, the less it’ll flow.”

The room fell silent—not the kind of silence that weighs heavy, but a gentle one, where their presence alone was enough to soothe each other.

“Why won’t you let yourself be loved, Y/N?” Gerard broke the quiet, resting his head on his hand.

“What do you mean, Gee?”

“Well… that night by the bonfire, you know, we ended up kissing but… you started crying and apologizing.”

Y/N looked away, saying nothing.

“Baby, in case it’s not obvious—I’m crazy about you. I love hearing you talk, I adore being with you. But every time it feels like we’re about to… get close, you pull away.” He paused. “If I’m not wrong, you feel the same. And I get it, this whole time travel thing is dangerous. But… is it really impossible to ignore all that and just feel what we feel?”

Y/N kept her gaze lowered. Gerard wasn’t wrong—not at all. But she was terrified of causing a ripple that could change everything. Anything could happen, anything that wasn’t meant to. And knowing Gerard, her biggest fear was that leaving would break him emotionally. That’s why, even though they were both falling deeply in love, she tried to draw a line—so neither of them would get too attached. But it was already too late.

Finally, she turned to face him. He saw the tears gathering in her eyes, and just like that, she whispered, “Gerard, I love you.”

He gave her the sweetest smile and the softest gaze Y/N had ever seen in a man.

“But I’m so scared. This could end badly for both of us. There’s a reason none of this happened in the original timeline.”

“But it’s happening now, right this moment,” he said, inching closer to her. “Maybe it sounds crazy, maybe it’s intense and impulsive, but I’d never even considered the idea of having a family, of seeing myself as a married man—until you brought it up. And with your presence, your way of being, of thinking… it’s hard to imagine myself with anyone else. I don’t want someone like you. I want you.”

Y/N was stunned by Gerard’s confession. Of course it was beautiful—but it carried so much pain. Her heart ached at the thought that she had to travel through time to find love, and even then, everything kept getting harder. It overwhelmed her so deeply that she broke down in tears.

Gerard got up to close the door, then returned to sit beside Y/N.

“Come on, angel, don’t cry,” he whispered, placing soft kisses along her exposed shoulder.

“To hell with the timeline,” he declared, before gently moving to her neck.

Y/N was completely undone. Her body and heart were overpowering reason—but what can you do when it’s two hearts starving and lips desperate to meet?

She cupped Gerard’s face with tenderness and urgency, and sought his lips, which met hers with equal fervor. Their kiss danced between desperation, passion, and the gentleness of genuine love.

Soon, his hand traced her arm, then slid around her waist without breaking the kiss, while she placed her hands on his shoulders.

Out of breath, Y/N paused.

“Gee… are you sure about this?” she asked between gasps, shifting on the bed to move away from its edge.

Gerard, smiling and mesmerized by the sight of her flushed cheeks and wide, deer-like eyes, replied,

“If it’s what you want too, then I’m more than ready, baby.”

Y/N smiled softly and nodded.

Without delay, seeing she was ready, Gerard leaned in to kiss her again—this time slower. He lingered at the corners of her mouth, then moved to her neck, before returning to her delicate lips. Y/N just surrendered to the moment.

As Gerard’s hands began to explore her curves, their pajamas started to get in the way. Gently, Y/N removed Gerard’s shirt, and he helped her take off the sleeveless top she wore as sleepwear, revealing the tattoos he had barely glimpsed before.

Skin to skin, the kisses continued. This wasn’t a moment of empty lust, not “just sleeping with someone” or a casual encounter. It was the merging of two souls overflowing with love—connected through touch, desire, and aching hearts.

Gerard remained gentle and attentive throughout. Having Y/N exposed and entirely his made him realize just how fragile she was.

Meanwhile, Y/N admired every detail of Gerard with love: the scars, the soft hair beginning to grow on his chest, the stretch marks—everything about him felt beautiful.

That night, they reached the stars together. And when they returned to Earth, they collapsed into each other’s arms, becoming one.

For the first time since arriving, Y/N felt truly calm, completely at peace. With Gee holding her, time no longer felt like an obstacle.

Around six in the morning, Gerard stirred, needing to go to the bathroom. Finding Y/N still nestled in his arms, he kissed her gently on the head trying to wake her softly. But she didn’t stir.

He whispered her name, but got no response.

Thinking she must be deeply asleep from exhaustion, he tried to move her slowly—but something felt off. Her body was unusually heavy, and in the darkness, he couldn’t tell if she was breathing properly.

“Y/N?” Gerard called out, now with a louder voice and growing panic. “Y/N, please wake up!”

But there was still no response.

With all his strength, Gerard pulled Y/N back into his arms, gently shook her, he also tried to find her pulse—but it was imperceptible.

What had started as soft whispers to wake her turned into desperate cries for help, his heart racing wildly.

At the first scream, the guys woke up abruptly and rushed to Gerard’s room, only to find him completely alone, sobbing uncontrollably, his hands tangled in his hair.

“She disappeared! She disappeared in my arms! She’s gone! She’s not here anymore!” Gerard cried out, his voice breaking with anguish.

His friends were stunned. Ray, pale with worry and panic, asked, “Wait—what happened? Who disappeared?”

“Y/N! I was holding her and she vanished!” Gerard replied, on the verge of a full-blown anxiety attack.

Meanwhile, Y/N woke up suddenly in her bedroom—still wearing the pajamas she’d put on after spending the night with Gerard.

But instead of feeling relief, she felt shattered.

She had left behind the person she loved most.

Though dizzy, she forced herself to get out of bed, dragging herself toward the door.

Outside, a crowd had gathered, staring at her as if she were an alien fallen from the sky.

“Y/N! What happened to you? Where have you been?” her best friend asked, frantic after searching for her everywhere while Y/N had been living in another year.

“I’m calling your mom to let her know you’re back—and the authorities too. They need to know you’ve returned.”

Y/N couldn’t speak.

She was visibly disoriented, and the sight of so many people overwhelmed her.

She collapsed to the floor, unconscious.

Back in the past, the band was falling apart—not just because of Y/N’s sudden and mysterious disappearance, but because Gerard’s emotional stability had crumbled.

He spiraled back into the habits he’d left behind while Y/N was with him.

And yet, even on the edge of breaking, despite how hollow he felt, he stepped into the recording booth to finally record the song he’d postponed for so long—just to bring it all to an end.